Electric Field

Electric field is space around charge or charge

distribution in which another charge experiences electric
force.

Every charge has its own electric field everywhere in the

surrounding.

Q r q F
Test Point Charge

It is the charge which has magnitude very small compared

to the source charges. ( Q >> q )

We assume that test charge doesn’t have its on electric

field.

The use of test charge is only to sense the electric field of

other source charges.
Electric Field Intensity

q Test Point Charge Q Source Point Charge

Electric field is space around charge or charge distribution

in which another charge experiences electric force.

Q r q1 F1
Electric Field Intensity

q Test Point Charge Q Source Point Charge

Electric field is space around charge or charge distribution

in which another charge experiences electric force.

Q r q2 F2
Electric Field Intensity

q Test Point Charge Q Source Point Charge

Electric field is space around charge or charge distribution

in which another charge experiences electric force.

Q r q3 F3
Conclusion

Source Point Charge

Test Point Charge

Q r q F

F∝q
That mean, we have to define a new physical quantity
named as electric field intensity denoted by E.
F = qE
Here, E is a constant term (for fixed source charge and
for fixed distance between test charge and source
charge).
E = F/q
Special Points

Definition of electric field intensity –

“Electric field intensity is defined as the electric force
applied on unit positive test charge.”

Mathematical generalized expression

F
E = lim
q→0 q

It is vector quantity whose direction is always in the

direction of electric force experienced by positive test
charge.
 Electric Field

Electric field due to positive source charge

Electric field is radially outward

 Electric Field

Electric field due to negative source charge

Electric field due to negative charge is radially inward

Electric Field Intensity

Electric field intensity at a point can be defined as net

force experienced by unit positive test charge at that
point.
F0 N
E= Unit →
q0 C

• Vector quantity
• Dimensional formula [M1L1T-3A-1]
Properties of Electric Field Intensity

Positive charge experiences force in the direction of

electric field.

Negative charge experiences force opposite to the

direction of electric field.

+ F = qE F = qE –

E will be rightwards E will be Rightwards

Q. A charge of 10 μC and −10 μC is placed in uniform
electric field of 5 × 106 N/C directed along positive x
axis, find out force acting on positive and negative
charge?
Sol.

+ F = qE –
F = qE

F = (10 × 10−6 ) (5 × 106 ) iƸ F = (−10 × 10−6 )(5 × 106 ) iƸ

F = 50 iƸ N F = −50 iƸ N
Q. Calculate the electric field intensity which would be
just sufficient to balance the weight of a particle of
charge −10 μC and mass 10 mg. (take g = 10 ms −2 )

Sol. According to given situation Fnet = 0, i.e.

qE = mg
F = qE
mg
E=
q
_ -10 μC E
10 × 10 6(10)
E= _ = 10N/C
10 × 10 6
mg
Q. A positively charged oil drop is in equilibrium in a
uniform electric field. If suddenly direction of electric
field is reversed, then acceleration of drop becomes.
(A) g (B) 2g
(C) g/2 (D) None of these
Sol.
For equilibrium of particle qE = mg

F = qE

+q E

mg
Sol. When the field is reversed then net force on particle will
be

+q
E
mg F = qE

F = qE + mg (downwards) ∵ qE = mg

F = 2mg (downwards)

F
a = = 2g (downwards)
m
VECTOR FORM

Electric field due to point charge (vector form)

F0
P
q0(test charge)
rԦ
kQq0
Force on test charge F0 = 2 ොr
r
+Q

F0 kQ kQ
E = = 2 ොr E = 3 rԦ
q0 r r
Electric field depends on medium
1 Q
Electric field in vacuum E =
4πϵ0 r2
1 Q E
Electric field in medium Em = 2
=
4πϵ0K r K
K = Dielectric constant or relative permittivity of medium

In general K ≥ 1 so Em ≤ E
Superposition Principle
&
Graphical problems
of
Electric Field
Superposition Principle of Electric Field

According to superposition principle when two or more than two

charges present in space than electric field at a particular point
will be equal to vector sum of electric fields due to individual
charges.
q3
q2

q1 qn
P
En E1
E3
E2
According to superposition principle, net electric field at the given
point ‘P’ will be
Enet = E1+ E2+ E3…………+ En
Q. Charges of equal magnitude q but alternately of same
nature are placed at x = a, x = 2a, x = 4a, x = 8a
…..∞ respectively as shown in fig. Find net electric field
at origin.
q -q q -q
O a 2a 4a 8a ∞
Sol.
Sol.
Q. Find net electric field at point P shown in figure -

q q

q q
Sol.
D C
q q
E E
P Enet =0
p
E E
q q
A B
Q. Find net electric field intensity at point ‘P’ -
q

a a
q

q
Sol. a P
q
B

a a
q
q 600 P kq
E= 2
A a 600 a
E′
3E
 q
B
Sol.

a a
q
q 600 P kq
E= 2
A a 600 a
E′
3E

Resultant electric field at P will be

Q. Find net electric field at point P shown in figure -

q q

q P

Sol.
 B C
Sol. q q

q P kq
E= 2
A a

2E
Enet at P will be E

E′
Q. Six point positive charges are placed at corners of regular
hexagon.
(A) Find net electric field at center of hexagon.
(B) If one of the charge from all is negative then what will
be new electric field at the center hexagon ?

q q

q q

Sol.

q q
Sol. (A) q B q
C

E E
q E q
A D
E
E E
q q
F E
Enet at center will be zero
Sol. (B) q B q
C

E E
q E q
A D
E
E E
q q
F E

If sign of charge placed at D is changed (it becomes negative)

Sol. q B q
C

E E
q E –q
A D
2E
E E
q q
F E
r is side of hexagon which is also equal to the distance
b/w centre to vertex

2kq
Enet = 2 (along point D)
r
 Important Note

When identical charges are placed at corners of regular

polygon (symmetric arrangement) then the electric force
on any charge placed at centre of polygon is always zero.

q q
F
q q q F q
−q F

F
F
q q q q

Here angle between nearby forces is 72° & therefore their

vector sum will be zero.
Q. Four identical charges are placed at corners of regular
pentagon find electric field at centre of pentagon.

Sol.

q q
Sol. Here we will use a tricky method, At the empty corner
we consider +q and – q charges (net zero) in such
condition due to all positive charges electric field will
be zero, and only electric field due to – q charge will
present at centre. q

q
kq
E= 2 q
r
−q

q q

So electric field at centre will be only due to – q which is

kq
equal to 2 here r is distance between centre to corner.
r
Graphical problems

Electric field v/s distance

kQ 1
For point charge E = or E ∝ 2
r2 r
+Q +E
For positive charge +r

r
Graphical problems

Electric field v/s distance

kQ 1
For point charge E = or E ∝ 2
r2 r
–E +Q
For positive charge
−r

−r

−E
For negative charge

−Q +E −Q
−E
+r −r

E E

r –r

−E −E
 For positive charge For negative charge

+𝐄 +𝐄

+𝐐 −𝐐
−𝐫 +𝐫 −𝐫 +𝐫

−𝐄 −𝐄
Graph for pair of positive charges

+𝐄 +𝐄

+Q +Q
−𝐫
𝐍𝐏

−𝐄 −𝐄
Graph for pair of positive charges

+𝐄 +𝐄

−𝐫 +𝐫
−Q 𝐍𝐏 −Q

−𝐄 −𝐄
 Graph for pair of positive and negative charges

+𝐄 +𝐄

+Q
−𝐫 +𝐫
𝐌 −Q

−𝐄 −𝐄
Key Takeaways

According to superposition principle, net electric field at

the given point will be
𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐭 = 𝐄𝟏+ 𝐄𝟐+ 𝐄𝟑…………+ 𝐄𝐧

When identical charges are placed at corners of regular

polygon (symmetric arrangement) then the electric force
on any charge placed at centre of polygon is always zero.

For positive charge For negative charge

Types of continuous charge distribution

Charge Distribution

Linear Surface Volume

Charge Distribution Charge Distribution Charge Distribution
1. Linear charge distribution

Used for linear objects (1-D) such as wire, thin rod, ring etc.

Linear charge density Q

Q
λ= C/m L
L

For non uniform distribution of charge

dQ
λ=
dL
dQ = λdL
Q. Find the charge of a thin rod whose linear charge density
varies according to λ = λ0x
Q=?

Sol. First of all we will consider a small element of length dx

x=0 dq x=L
Then dq = λdx

or dq = λ0x dx x dx
Q L
න dq = න λ0 xdx
0 0
L
λ0L2
Q = λ0 න xdx Q=
0 2
Q. If the linear charge density of a semi-circular ring is
λ = λ0 sin θ.
Then find total charge on the semi-circular ring.
Sol.
Sol. For finding total charge on semi-circular ring

dq = λdx

dq = (λ0 sin θ)dx dx = Rdθ

dq = (λ0 sin θ) dθ
π θ
Q = λ0R න sin θ dθ
0 B O A
π
Q = λ0R −cos θ 0

Q = (−λ0R) cos π − cos 0 = (−λ0R) (−1) − (1)

Q = 2λ0R